Chapter 3

The next day, my family's "trial" against me officially began, and the tiny apartment was soon packed with relatives, including Uncle Roberto, Mom's younger brother who was a venture capitalist, and Aunt Matilda, Mom's older sister who worked for a charitable foundation.

They sat around the living room as if they were holding a board meeting.

Mom had locked me inside the bedroom, so all I could do was listen through the gap in the door.

"Emilia's never been able to handle anything," Mom said as she poured coffee, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "This divorce has completely destroyed her mental health."

"Goodness, how did things end up like this?" Aunt Matilda said, sighing. "Thank goodness for you, Victoria. You're willing to step up at a time like this and take this mess off everyone's hands just to protect the family's reputation."

"We all carry the Bellini name, Aunt Matilda. If I don't step up, who will?"

Victoria's words were always so polished and flawless, leaving no room for criticism.

"Besides, Alexander adores the baby as well. He says he'll raise her as his own. It'll be a great boost for our family's public image, too."

"Alexander truly is the complete package," Uncle Roberto said, taking a sip of his coffee. "What about Emilia's ex-husband? Why hasn't he shown his face?"

"Don't even mention that man." Mom scoffed coldly. "The moment he learned that Emilia was mentally unstable, he signed away his parental rights and ran as far away as he could."

I leaned against the bedroom door, holding Lily, who had just fallen fast asleep after nursing.

I'd divorced my ex-husband, David Russo, because he had cheated on me. Back then, I'd forced him to agree to the divorce with ironclad proof I'd obtained through a private investigator. But according to Mom, it had become a story of him dumping me because I was mentally unstable, and the family had to spend money to clean up my mess.

Uncle Roberto, however, bought her story completely.

"Is the baby still with her?" he asked.

"Yeah. She clutches onto Lily for dear life and refuses to let go. When the psychiatric evaluators came over yesterday, she threw water in their faces! If she has an episode one day and lands us on the front page of the newspaper, what would that do to our family's reputation?"

"That won't do at all!" Aunt Matilda shrieked. "Those tabloids love scandals involving the wealthy elite. Victoria, you need to take the baby away immediately!"

"I'd love to, Aunt Matilda," Victoria said with a sigh, putting on a helpless expression. "But Emilia won't agree to it, and legally, she's still Lily's mother. If she calls the police, it'll be considered kidnapping. That would leave a permanent stain on Alexander's record."

"Who cares about the legal risks?" Uncle Roberto snapped as he slammed his coffee cup onto the marble table. "This is just a private family matter. One round of golf with the judge will take care of everything. Who's going to take the word of a mentally ill woman with violent tendencies? Just send someone in to take the child!"

"That's right!" Aunt Matilda chimed in, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Don't worry too much, Victoria. Everything we're doing is for the family."

For the family.

The Bellini family name was powerful, and that was why we'd all carried it, regardless of whom we married. But for the past 20-something years, the concept of "for the family" had weighed on me like an invisible boulder.

When we were children, Victoria stole an antique necklace from me—the only heirloom our grandmother had left me.

I cried and begged her to give it back.

Mom, however, locked me in my room and said coldly, "Victoria is the eldest daughter. She's going to a society ball next week and needs that necklace to keep up appearances. You need to think about the bigger picture. This is for the family."

After I graduated from college, I saved up some money to rent an art studio of my own. But Victoria was short on the down payment for a luxury condo. Mom froze my account without hesitation and transferred the money over to her.

"You need to think about the family. Victoria's new condo will help her get promoted. Once she does, you'll benefit from it too."

Except Victoria had never let me benefit from her at all.

When I'd discovered evidence of David's affair, I had been devastated that I'd called Victoria in the middle of the night.

The only thing she'd said to me was, "It's 2:00 am right now. Alexander has a billion-dollar merger to negotiate tomorrow. Take care of your own problems, and don't let your scandal affect his company's stock price."

Now, they were using the same "for the family" excuse to steal my own flesh and blood away from me.

Footsteps sounded outside the bedroom door, drawing closer.

"Emilia, open the door."

Uncle Roberto's voice carried the familiar arrogance of someone accustomed to calling the shots.

"Your elders are all here. What kind of behavior is this, hiding in your room?"

I bit my lip, staring at the doorknob.

Losing his patience, Uncle Roberto rattled it forcefully.

"Why is it locked? Victoria, get someone up here to break down the door!"

"Uncle Roberto, there could be legal trouble if we force our way in," Victoria said, pretending to weigh the consequences.

"What troubles? This apartment is under the family trust. I decide what happens here!" he growled coldly. "We're taking Lily today, no matter what. We absolutely can't allow the Bellini family bloodline to be destroyed by a crazy woman! Break it down!"

A heavy crash shook the door.

Lily startled in her sleep, her tiny hands tightening around my shirt. I clutched her tightly against me and retreated to the corner farthest from the door.

Hidden inside the withered pothos plant on the windowsill was a miniature high-definition camera with direct-to-cloud streaming capabilities. I'd bought it the night before—with next-day delivery—using the last of my available credit.

Another deafening crash sounded, and the lock began to give way.

"It's almost open. One more hit!" Uncle Roberto ordered.